Amid planning to announce its immigration goals for the approaching three years, the federal government examines new studies that have found an escalating trend of immigrants exiting Canada in lieu of opportunities in other nations.
A distinct rise in immigration departure from Canada was noted throughout the years 2017 and 2019. The findings of this research study, conducted by both the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, demonstrate a 31 per cent increase beyond the historical average.
Aside from these two years, the study observes a consistent rise in onward migration, a phenomenon defining immigrants’ movement from their original settlement to establish a new life in a different country. This increase dates back to the 1980s.
The cumulative onward migration rate for individuals who arrived in Canada during the 1980s averaged 18 per cent, a figure that escalated to 21 per cent for those gaining permanent residency in the first half of the 1990s.
The country’s future prosperity is heavily reliant on immigration, illustrating a significant correlation between immigration and the GDP growth rate, a balanced worker to retiree ratio, and mitigated labor shortages that ordinarily augment inflation. By welcoming immigrants, Canada can meet its humanitarian goals proficiently.
Onward migration in recent immigrants to Canada typically happens between four to seven years post immnigration. This pattern suggests the need for positive early experiences that will encourage them to choose Canada as their permanent home. The study urges the federal government to make the retention of newcomers as a top priority.
Several factors potentially motivate immigrants to migrate onward. These include economic integration, a sense of belonging, backlash from racism, homeownership opportunities or lack thereof, and contrasting immigration and economic opportunities offered by other countries. Immigrants in Canada can face significant career setbacks if they fail to find jobs suited to their qualifications and professional skills.
The study recommends investments in infrastructure and initiatives to foster a sense of belonging among immigrants, alongside policy changes to assure that immigrants can achieve personal and career growth in Canada.
As Canada’s population surpasses 40 million driven by a growth of over one million in 2022, a vast majority of this growth comes from international migration. This rapid growth, coupled with a reported housing crisis, forces the federal government to reconsider its immigration targets.
In the previous year, Ottawa’s aim was to welcome half a million permanent residents per year by 2025. It is now expected that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller will declare whether this goal will stay in effect while discussing the updated immigration plans on Wednesday.
A recent shift in public opinion sees a growing number of people believing that the current level of Canada’s immigration is excessive, due to concerns over affordable housing availability for newcomers. Public sentiment from only a year prior, however, stood at an all-time high in support of immigrants. The gap between these opinions has significantly reduced over the past year.
